Article

2009-03-02 Afghanistan

Interview with Michael Yon - Iraq, we won, Afghanistan we're in trouble

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-03-02 02:09|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Our biggest problem in Afghanistan was that we were unwilling to do the three things needed to restore it to order.

1) An aggressive attitude that everything they are and do is wrong, and everything we are and do is right. Therefore they need to be rewritten to doing things the right way.

2) Their wage is so low, we could have and should have employed every non-employed adult male and female, and put all children in safe, western style boarding schools.

3) Seal the border with Pakistan. It is only "porous" because we let it be porous. Too bad if Kabul wants an open border. The border must be closed. You are either an Afghan, and loyal to Afghanistan, or you are a foreigner, and get out.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-03-02 07:37|| 2009-03-02 07:37|| Front Page Top

#2 Seal the border with Pakistan.

You might want to look at a geographical map.

Posted by Steve White 2009-03-02 08:15|| 2009-03-02 08:15|| Front Page Top

#3 For all the doom and gloom you'd walk away thinking everything is going rosy for the Talibunnies and AQ. It's not. Your adversary is having problems too. Never forget that.

Posted by Procopius2k 2009-03-02 09:29|| 2009-03-02 09:29|| Front Page Top

#4 Steve White: I know that about half of Afghanistan's border is shared with Pakistan. However, there are only about six major, any vehicle, passes. Secondary passes suitable for rough terrain vehicles, perhaps two dozen, and foot or mule, another two dozen.

Otherwise, the rest of the border is impassable.

Pakistan offered to close a bunch of the lesser passes used for smuggling with multiple strand concertina and other reasonably effective means, but the Kabul government adamantly refused. Our permitting them to do so was a major mistake.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-03-02 10:32|| 2009-03-02 10:32|| Front Page Top

#5 Find a place on each trail to dig a big pit, somewhere there's NO chance to get around, THAT'LL STOP ALL CAR TRAFFIC then mine the surround. That'll stop any traffic, check periodically, making sure they didn't drive a herd of sheep through and boom all the mines. Reseed mines by air as needed.

Posted by The Holy Reverend Redneck Jim">The Holy Reverend Redneck Jim 2009-03-02 14:02|| 2009-03-02 14:02|| Front Page Top

#6 we can't even seal our own border with mexico how do you suppose we seal one that that mountanous and the locals know all the little deer trails? first of all you have too stop these ROEs that are hindering our guys from killing the shit out of the talibunnies and al queda and bring back those pesky pesticides they banned in the late 80's that can really kill a poppy crop

Posted by rabid whitetail 2009-03-02 14:13|| 2009-03-02 14:13|| Front Page Top

#7 Legalize the poppy crop. Problem solved. Insurgents are defunded, and don't have any reason left to fight anyway. Young Afghans will get jobs growing crops instead of taking pot shots at NATO troops. Everyone will be too busy making money, buying goodies and saving to send their kids to a nice madrassa to pay any attention to the Pakis who are trying to foment violence.

Posted by Iblis 2009-03-02 15:03|| 2009-03-02 15:03|| Front Page Top

#8 we can't even seal our own border with mexico

rabid, we don't know if we can seal our own border - 'we' don't even want to try. Sorta like A'stan.

Posted by Glenmore 2009-03-02 17:21|| 2009-03-02 17:21|| Front Page Top

#9 Our main problem in Afghanistan is that it doesn't have a port. Same problem the Kurds have. America wins wars logistically. Ports are a necessary but not sufficient condition for American victory. No port, no win.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-03-02 18:10|| 2009-03-02 18:10|| Front Page Top

#10 No port in Afghanistan, ya say? How 'bout a modern version of the PLOWSHARE PROGRAM? We'll need some 100 megaton plows to deal with some of the higher mountains.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2009-03-02 21:41|| 2009-03-02 21:41|| Front Page Top

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